EAST LANSING - When Brian Linthicum found out that - due to his own poor decision making - he would miss the beginning of spring ball, he wasn't worried about sliding down depth charts and losing playing time. He was upset because, as a senior, he felt he needed to be there to lead.

His leadership began the same day the trouble started. After he and sophomore teammate Max Bullough got arrested while on spring break in Colorado, someone had to call Mark Dantonio.

It occurred to Linthicum that, as the older of the two, he should take responsibility and make the call.

The voice on the other end simply said "I'll see you both Monday morning". Over the next couple of weeks, their days would begin at 4:30 am.